1945 – The Giants obtain a genuine “phenom,” pitcher/outfielder Clint Hartung, from Minneapolis for $20,000 and three players. Much ballyhooed, Hartung hit .358 in 66 games in 1942 for Eau Claire (Northern League) while winning three games. He was then in the military for the next three years, and will be still playing in the military for the 1946 season. The New York World Telegram’s Tom Meany writes, “Hartung’s a sucker if he reports to the Giants. All he has to do is sit at home, wait till he’s eligible, and he’s a cinch to make the Hall of Fame.”

ByTom

1945 – The Giants obtain a genuine “phenom,” pitcher/outfielder Clint Hartung, from Minneapolis for $20,000 and three players. Much ballyhooed, Hartung hit .358 in 66 games in 1942 for Eau Claire (Northern League) while winning three games. He was then in the military for the next three years, and will be still playing in the military for the 1946 season. The New York World Telegram’s Tom Meany writes, “Hartung’s a sucker if he reports to the Giants. All he has to do is sit at home, wait till he’s eligible, and he’s a cinch to make the Hall of Fame.”

For the majors, returning servicemen are given increased protection for one year and the limiting of rosters to 25 players will be delayed until June 15th.

ByTom

For the majors, returning servicemen are given increased protection for one year and the limiting of rosters to 25 players will be delayed until June 15th.

At the annual meeting, the major leagues head off the quest of the Pacific Coast League for major league status and grant more territorial protection for the upper minors by creating a new AAA classification for the PCL, American Association, and International League. The Eastern and Texas Leagues are promoted from Class A to AA. The South Atlantic League moves to Class A from Class B.

ByTom

At the annual meeting, the major leagues head off the quest of the Pacific Coast League for major league status and grant more territorial protection for the upper minors by creating a new AAA classification for the PCL, American Association, and International League. The Eastern and Texas Leagues are promoted from Class A to AA. The South Atlantic League moves to Class A from Class B.

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9/23/1945 – The Browns were playing a late-season game in Detroit and were ahead, 5-0, after eight innings. In the top of the ninth, Browns Manager Luke Sewell intentionally skipped pitcher Nels Potter in the batting order. Don Gutteridge stepped to the plate a turn early but made an out so nothing was said by the Tigers. Sewell wanted Potter to have a bit more rest before the bottom of the ninth on the hot day in Michigan and Potter finished the complete game shutout.

ByTom

9/23/1945 – The Browns were playing a late-season game in Detroit and were ahead, 5-0, after eight innings. In the top of the ninth, Browns Manager Luke Sewell intentionally skipped pitcher Nels Potter in the batting order. Don Gutteridge stepped to the plate a turn early but made an out so nothing was said by the Tigers. Sewell wanted Potter to have a bit more rest before the bottom of the ninth on the hot day in Michigan and Potter finished the complete game shutout.

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9/15/1945 – Kermit Wahl of the Reds batted out of turn in the bottom of the second inning and singled to CF. When the mistake was pointed out to HP umpire Bill Stewart, the proper batter, Woody Williams, was called out. The Reds beat the Braves, 2-0, in 1:14 at Crosley Field.

ByTom

9/15/1945 – Kermit Wahl of the Reds batted out of turn in the bottom of the second inning and singled to CF. When the mistake was pointed out to HP umpire Bill Stewart, the proper batter, Woody Williams, was called out. The Reds beat the Braves, 2-0, in 1:14 at Crosley Field.

Philadelphia outfielder Vince DiMaggio’s bases-loaded home run paces the Phillies to an 8-3 victory over Boston at Braves Field. Joe and Dom’s older brother ties a major league mark with his fourth grand slam of the season.

ByTom

Philadelphia outfielder Vince DiMaggio’s bases-loaded home run paces the Phillies to an 8-3 victory over Boston at Braves Field. Joe and Dom’s older brother ties a major league mark with his fourth grand slam of the season.

1945 – Dave Ferriss of the Boston Red Sox loses to the New York Yankees, 3 – 2, after starting his career with eight victories, four of them shutouts.

ByTom

1945 – Dave Ferriss of the Boston Red Sox loses to the New York Yankees, 3 – 2, after starting his career with eight victories, four of them shutouts.

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5/24/1945 – The Athletics beat the Tigers, 7-2, in a wild game. In the fourth inning, pitcher Al Benton of the Tigers was hit by a line drive by Bobby Estalella. Benton suffered a fractured bone just above the right ankle and was carried off the field. The Philadelphia batting order turned in to umpire Eddie Rommel had Joe Burns batting fourth, Irv Hall fifth and George Kell sixth. However, on the scoreboard Hall and Kell were reversed. Burns struck out to open the bottom of the second inning. Kell, batting out of turn, also struck out. Hall then batted and, when he singled, the Tigers protested that he was out of order. Rommel declared Hall out, which was incorrect according to the rules. The proper batter in this case was Dick Siebert, who followed Kell in the lineup in the seventh spot, and he should have been declared out, not Hall. Rommel further declared that Kell should lead off the third inning, which is also incorrect. Since Siebert was the proper batter, Frankie Hayes (in the eighth spot) should have led off the third inning. Since Rommel had Kell lead off the third inning, it looks as if only five batters made six outs in the first two frames. One result of the confusion is that Kell’s strikeout disappeared from the official records. The confusion continued when the Tigers’ protest of the game based on Kell was not being the proper lead off batter was denied incorrectly by the AL president.

ByTom

5/24/1945 – The Athletics beat the Tigers, 7-2, in a wild game. In the fourth inning, pitcher Al Benton of the Tigers was hit by a line drive by Bobby Estalella. Benton suffered a fractured bone just above the right ankle and was carried off the field. The Philadelphia batting order turned in to umpire Eddie Rommel had Joe Burns batting fourth, Irv Hall fifth and George Kell sixth. However, on the scoreboard Hall and Kell were reversed. Burns struck out to open the bottom of the second inning. Kell, batting out of turn, also struck out. Hall then batted and, when he singled, the Tigers protested that he was out of order. Rommel declared Hall out, which was incorrect according to the rules. The proper batter in this case was Dick Siebert, who followed Kell in the lineup in the seventh spot, and he should have been declared out, not Hall. Rommel further declared that Kell should lead off the third inning, which is also incorrect. Since Siebert was the proper batter, Frankie Hayes (in the eighth spot) should have led off the third inning. Since Rommel had Kell lead off the third inning, it looks as if only five batters made six outs in the first two frames. One result of the confusion is that Kell’s strikeout disappeared from the official records. The confusion continued when the Tigers’ protest of the game based on Kell was not being the proper lead off batter was denied incorrectly by the AL president.